Climate change on the web @ KQED

Posted by Tom Knudson's Sierra Summit Blog

October 23, 2008

If you care about California's climate, bookmark this site --

http://www.kqed.org/news/specialcoverage/climatewatch/

A production of KQED, the Bay Area public radio and televison station, the Climate Watch web page represents a first-of-its-kind, non-governmental effort to track climate issues across the entire state. Barely one month old, it's already filled with enough material to keep you clicking and clicking - and clicking some more. Think of it as an audio (and digital) archive of all things climate - from the impact of global warming on the Sierra snow-pack to efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions across the state and region.

Craig Miller, senior editor of Climate Watch, told me the web page was born to fill a blank spot in cyber-space. "We found there really wasn't much out there, other than government sites, that were looking at climate change from a California perspective, state-wide. So we were trying to stake our our territory.

"I think there is a real recognition that the future is the web," Miller said. "That's kind of center stage right now." 

And he is obviously the right man for the job. An independent documentary producer, Miller has written, directed and hosted several television documentaries about natural resources issues across the state, including `California Heat', a fascinating look at impact of climate change in coming decades right here in our own backyard, that aired on Sacramento PBS television station KVIE earlier this week. In 2007, he won a Northern California Emmy as a producer for writing Echoes of a Lost Valley, an exploration of California prior to European settlement.For more about Craig and his work, go to: http://www.voxterra.net/

The Climate Watch web page is part of a package of web pages at KQED devoted to key contemporary issues. It is funded by a four year grant from the R. Gwin Follis Foundation. 

On Friday, Miller continues his coverage with a radio segment about California's never-ending fire season. Sacramento listeners can hear it on The California Report on Capitol Public Radio, KXJZ. And of course, you will find it on the KQED Climate Watch web page, too. For a preview, check out MIller's blog at: http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2008/10/23/a-long-dry-season/
"If you don't count the meltdown of the global financial system, climate change is the emerging story of the decade - and maybe our lifetime," Miller said. "It's tough to ignore."